6 Tips for Managing Eczema During Winter
Nearly 32 million Americans have eczema, including 10-20% of kids. Whatever your age, managing eczema in winter can be more challenging, which is why you need to follow these best practices.
First Aid Tips for Parents of Small Children
As soon as your child is mobile, they will get into trouble.
Board-certified pediatricians Dr. Sharon Lucas and Dr. Rachel McConnell, of Neighborhood Pediatrics in Shenandoah, Texas, are available to help when your child has an urgent but non-life-threatening injury. But you don’t need medical help for every bump, scrape, or bruise. Know how to handle the minor injuries your child will inevitably experience as they learn to walk, ride a bike, and navigate the outdoors.
Here’s how to provide first aid to your little one at home and when to see us for extra assistance.
Cuts and scrapes
If your child scrapes their knee or suffers a cut, apply standard first aid. Before attending to your child, wash your hands.
Apply pressure to the cut or scrape with gauze or a clean cloth to stop any bleeding. It might take a few minutes for the bleeding to slow down.
Next, clean the wound. Rinse a cut under cool running water or pat a scrape with a damp cloth or gauze. Water should do, but you can use a saline wound cleaner. Never use soap, as it irritates the cut. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or iodine either, as they aren’t superior cut-healing agents but irritants that may make your child even more uncomfortable.
If there’s dirt or debris entangled in the wound or cut, use a pair of clean tweezers to pull it out. Bandage the cut if it’s in an easily irritated or reopened area, but often cuts and scrapes heal better when left uncovered.
If the cut is exceptionally deep or ragged, your child will likely need care from Drs. Lucas or McDonnell.Call ahead to alert us that you’re coming.
Bump on the head
If your child fell and bonked their head, you have every right to worry. Apply an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a thin towel to the point of injury. If your child seems OK and is behaving normally, just monitor them for any changes or unusual symptoms.
Your child may need some extra rest following a head injury. Pain may be managed with acetaminophen (Tylenol®). Never give ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®) for a head injury, as it can aggravate any internal bleeding.
If you’re concerned about how your child is acting following a blow to the head, call our office right away so we can help you determine if you should come in or go to the ER.
Minor burns
If your child touches a hot stove or gets too close to a lit candle, don’t panic. Hold the injury under cool tap water for 10-15 minutes to ease pain and inflammation. Applying an antibiotic ointment to the burn is also a good idea to initiate cell regeneration.
Even if the burn blisters, stay calm. The bubble is a preventive barrier that guards against infection. The blister should pop on its own after a few days and may be bandaged.
If the burn area is larger than the size of your child’s palm, is on a delicate area like the face or genitals, looks angry, or is wet and waxy, call our office right away.
If at-home first aid isn’t sufficient for your child’s injuries, the physicians at Neighborhood Pediatrics are always here to help. We offer telehealth service, too. Contact us at our Shenandoah, Texas, office at 832-843-2049 today.
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